Jack Charlton

• Born: May 8, 1935
• Birthplace: Ashington, Northumberland, England
• Died: July 10, 2020
• Place of death: Northumberland, England

Sport: Soccer

Early Life

John “Jack” Charlton was born in Ashington, Northumberland, in the northeast of England on May 8, 1935. The large town nearest to Ashington is Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Newcastle is not only the capital of the distinctive Tyneside region but also home to Newcastle United, one of the most prominent soccer teams in England during Charlton’s formative years. Newcastle United’s success undoubtedly influenced young Charlton’s commitment to soccer, particularly since he was a nephew of the star of the Newcastle team, the legendary forward Jackie Milburn.

The Road to Excellence

Like most soccer players of his generation, Charlton began his soccer career by playing for amateur local teams. In 1951, he signed with the Leeds United amateurs, another typical step on the road to a soccer career in England. Football League clubs such as Leeds United have, in effect, their own farm systems: teams that compete at lower levels of competition than the first team does.

In 1952, having proved himself at the amateur level, Charlton signed as a professional with Leeds United, and he stayed with the club throughout his playing career. In all, he made 773 appearances for Leeds, a club record. The fact that he stayed at Leeds is worth underlining, since his career spanned the period when fees for transfers—or cash trades—skyrocketed.

The Emerging Champion

Through most of Charlton’s career at Leeds, the club was a rather ordinary member of the Football League. Charlton’s gangly physique and strength as a header of the ball enabled him to retain his position of center-half, anchoring the defense. In particular, he became known for occupying a position on the opposition’s goal line during corner kicks. His ability in the air eventually earned for him the nickname “Giraffe.”

Although Charlton had proved to be a thoroughly reliable professional and had adapted to the tactical revolution that took place in English soccer in the early 1960s, his career did not blossom fully until twelve years after he had become a professional. One reason for his somewhat slow development was that much of his playing time was spent in the Football League second division. Division numbers are intended to suggest level of player ability: Leeds United was promoted to the more competitive first division in 1964. Charlton’s breakthrough came when he was picked to play for England’s international team against Scotland in 1965. In that game, he and his brother Bobby, the renowned Manchester United forward, became the first two brothers to play for England in the twentieth century. He made the most of the opportunity to play internationally and quickly became the defensive mainstay of the English team that won the World Cup in 1966. In 1967, he was named English footballer of the year.

At about the same time, Manager Don Revie was beginning to make his mark at Leeds United. Under his direction, Leeds became the dominant team in English soccer in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Although the Leeds team won fewer championships than expected, it compiled a record of consistency that was virtually unprecedented. In addition to winning the Football League Championship in 1969 and the Football Association Cup in 1972, the team met with considerable international success, winning what is now known as the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup in 1968 and 1971.

Charlton’s career as a player for England continued to flourish until the World Cup competition in Mexico in 1970. He played his last international game in that tournament, having been “capped” thirty-five times for his country. A “cap” refers to the piece of ceremonial headgear awarded international players upon their selection for the national team. He retired in 1973 after playing professionally for twenty years, during which time he became a model of tenacity and tactical shrewdness, making up for deficiencies in speed and ball control with an almost legendary work ethic.

Continuing the Story

Charlton continued to work in soccer after his retirement. He was manager of Middlesborough from 1973 to 1977 and, in his first season, led the team back to the first division. He was named manager of the year in 1974 and spent another successful term as manager of the Sheffield Wednesday club from 1977 to 1983. He also made a less productive managerial contribution at Newcastle United in 1983–84.

In February 1986, Charlton was the surprise choice to manage the Republic of Ireland national team. He performed this task with outstanding success, leading the team to the finals of the 1988 European Championships and to the 1990 World Cup Group Finals. In the 1994 World Cup, Ireland was the only representative from the British Isles. Though they were defeated by Holland, Ireland defeated the eventual runner-up team, Italy, 1–0.

Charlton’s managerial style was reflected in the uncompromising, unfashionable, economical, defense-minded play of the Irish team. In the rare moments when he was not engaged in soccer, he indulged in his hobbies of shooting and fishing. In 1995, he stepped down from his managerial role with Ireland. He was further honored for his legacy as a player in 2019 when he, along with his Revie teammates, was awarded the freedom of the city of Leeds.

After having been diagnosed with lymphoma and battling dementia, Charlton died at his home in Northumberland on July 10, 2020, at the age of eighty-five.

Summary

Though Jack Charlton was by no means a naturally gifted athlete, his career was a classic example of how determination, dedication, and intelligence can enable a player to reach the highest levels of competition. His contribution to English national life was rewarded by enrollment in the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974. For his contribution to soccer, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Bibliography

Charlton, Jack, and Peter Byrne. Jack Charlton: The Autobiography. New York: Partridge Press, 1996.

Galvin, Robert, and Mark Bushell. Football’s Greatest Heroes: The National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. London: Robson, 2005.

Hunt, Chris. The Complete Book of Soccer. Buffalo, N.Y.: Firefly Books, 2006.

McKinstry, Leo. Jack and Bobby. London: CollinsWillow, 2003.

Smith, Rory, et al. "Jack Charlton, Soccer Hero in England and Ireland, Dies at 85." The New York Times, 11 July 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/07/11/sports/soccer/jack-charlton-dies.html. Accessed 2 Nov. 2020.